NYT Pips hints and answers, Friday, August 21, 2026

Start with the cell that must be less than 1 at row 2, column 3. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 0, and only one domino has a 0: the 4–0.

Place the 4–0 domino with the 4 at row 1, column 3 and the 0 at row 2, column 3.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 5–2: R4C2→R4C1; 6–3: R2C4→R3C4; 1–5: R3C2→R3C3; 3–5: R4C4→R4C3; 4–0: R1C3→R2C3.

Start with the cell that must be greater than 3 at row 1, column 4. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 4. Only 3 dominoes have a 4: 6–4, 4–3, 4–1.

Place the 6–4 domino with the 6 at row 2, column 4 and the 4 at row 1, column 4.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 1–2: R4C3→R4C2; 6–4: R2C4→R1C4; 5–5: R3C1→R3C2; 4–3: R3C3→R3C4; 0–0: R4C4→R4C5; 6–6: R2C5→R3C5; 4–1: R2C3→R2C2.

Start with the cell that must equal 5 at row 3, column 3. It has the fewest ways to be satisfied.

That cell is a 5. Only 4 dominoes have a 5: 2–5, 1–5, 5–5, 3–5.

Place the 1–5 domino with the 1 at row 3, column 2 and the 5 at row 3, column 3.

Full solution (domino: first half → second half): 3–4: R5C7→R5C6; 6–1: R5C2→R4C2; 2–2: R2C2→R2C3; 6–3: R7C7→R8C7; 4–1: R10C1→R10C2; 3–3: R9C7→R10C7; 2–4: R3C6→R3C5; 0–6: R8C2→R9C2; 3–1: R10C6→R10C5; 2–5: R7C2→R7C3; 6–6: R8C5→R9C5; 1–5: R3C2→R3C3; 2–3: R2C5→R1C5; 5–5: R7C5→R7C6; 4–4: R4C5→R5C5; 3–5: R1C6→R1C7.